Money and/or Happiness

Growing up, I remember hearing around me how evil money is, how it changes people.

And, honestly, we didn’t have money. I believe it’s fair to say that we we’re poor.

But, it’s fair to say that we were blessed as well. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had one another. We had parents that loved us. We had friends that we could turn to. We had one another in times of suffering and times of joy.

The result of being poor: we appreciated people over things. Don’t get me wrong, we appreciated what we had because we didn’t have much, but we really appreciated the people we had in our lives.

So, how important is money?

Twenty dollar bills isolated against white background.

For starters, you need it to live. It buys food, pays for clothing, puts gas in your car and pays for your utilities. It gives you the ability to engage in fun-filled activities and past-times such as sports, travel, and in my case, quilting. Money pays your mortgage, medical insurance, car insurance, and mortgage insurance. Money pays for EVERYTHING.

Again, how important is money?

According to the above listed needs, money is extremely important. You basically can’t survive without it.

But, is it really that important?

Does money provide happiness?

Again, if your happiness is dependent upon the above mentioned needs, then yes, it’s important.

However, when we think beyond our earthly existence……

then how important is money?

If you’re survival was based on kindness, fairness, integrity, love……. would money still be that important?

As it is, we need money in this life, but we’ve reached a point where it seems to be that money comes before kind acts. It seems people are so consumed with themselves over others. When did kindness become such as burden? Can money go with you when you leave this early world? Is what you’re buried in going to make a difference at the end of your life?

Just recently, my job required me to take a CPR class. I saw the sign-up sheet in the break room, but I didn’t sign up. Honestly, I was trying to avoid it. I get nervous in groups of people and with hands-on learning such as CPR, I get really nervous. I hee-hawed around. I ignored the sign-up sheet. Every time I noticed it, it stared right back at me, willing me to sign-up. Still, I ignored it. Once day, i get a text from my boss: “CPR training, such and such date at such and such time. You’ve been signed up. Be there at this time.” Okay, I guess I’m going to CPR training. The other day at work, I was talking with a co-worker about it and she didn’t take it that day because she was working during the training. And then she said, “Why should I take it, I don’t get paid any more for having it.”

And she’s right. We don’t get paid more for being CPR certified. However, since it is a medical facility, every employee – by state law – has to have some basic CPR skills (certification). Depending on one’s job in the facility, the more in-depth CPR skills have to be.

Okay, that story came out of nowhere, but what I’m focusing on is the aspect of money.

Do we get paid more for being CPR certified?

No.

But, we have the ability to provide a service to another when/if needed.

And that is the ability to possibly save another’s life.

Now, would I take more money over that knowledge?

No.

Personally, I am thankful that I was required to take the class.

Why? Because now the happiness (it didn’t cost me a dime, but I’m not earning a dime) I would feel at providing an act of selflessness means far more than any monetary benefit.

So, can money bring happiness?

Sure it can. Money can bring temporary happiness, but the money one has is never enough because eventually what you feel temporarily snuffs itself out and the need to have more supersedes what you currently have.

Again, how important is money?

Happiness will come in the form of kindness to others, not being judgmental, showing love to everyone all the time. Happiness comes from within your heart.